Community & Family Osteopathy For all, in Shepton Mallet

Osteopathy is a safe established system of diagnosis and hands on treatment.

Osteopaths are used to dealing with patients in pain – whether it occurs in babies through the mechanical strain of birth, the young through sports or work related injuries; caused by weight and postural changes in pregnancy or in an older patient with arthritic pain. Their role is to alleviate pain, to improve mobility and posture and to make patient’s lives more comfortable.

What do Osteopaths treat?

Osteopaths are not just ‘back specialists’,they also address problems affecting any part of the musculo-skeletal system which in turn has an affect on the health of the body as a whole.
Some of the problems that Osteopaths treat are:

Osteopathy for Babies:

The small amounts of movement that exist in the infant skull permit the baby’s head to adapt to the forces of labour. However when birth is complicated by being unduly slow or fast, or when other complications occur such as the need for forceps delivery, the infant head may not fully recover from the distortion. This may result in subtle changes in function leading to varying problems.

Osteopaths will often use a special technique, often called cranial Osteopathy, when looking at children. This employs the Osteopath’s highly trained sense of touch to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations, both in and around the joints of the skull, and throughout the body. Osteopathic techniques are suitable for children at all stages of development.

These same techniques are employed when treating new mothers, and may be supplemented by more structural techniques, such as massage and articulation, which are more appropriate for adult treatment.

Osteopathy for Children:

As children grow older, problems may become apparent which may have arisen because of knocks or strains in earlier life. Recurrent infections in the ears, eyes and nose may be due in part to restrictions in the small yet important movements between the various bones of the growing skull.

Many osteopaths experienced in this field also consider that mechanical stresses on the body can be an important factor in cases of developmental delay, such as delayed speech, educational difficulties and problems with co-ordination and physical development that have no particular medical diagnosis. Such children often make better progress once osteopathic treatment has been started.
Older children can also benefit from osteopathic treatment; helping the body to adapt to the postural demands made on it during periods of rapid growth,and strains or sprains caused by large amounts of exercise.

Please call the practice for further information
or to make an appointment on:

WHO ARE WE?

Kathrine Read
BSc(Hons)Ost

Kathrine is a graduate of the British School of Osteopathy, where she studied a four year degree course in Osteopathic Medicine. She has practised as an Osteopath in Somerset for over 16 years, including two and a half years working at the Bristol Children’s Clinic.

Kathrine is the principal of the practice, and is a well-known and respected Osteopath who has built up two large practices in Somerset. Kathrine is the mother of 3 children. She has particular interest in treating pregnant and postpartum women, babies and children, and enjoys treating patients from birth to the elderly with a wide range of conditions. She uses a variety of gently osteopathic techniques in her practice including cranial osteopathy.

Kathrine has a special interest in the prevention of symptoms, helping patients to maintain their recovery through exercise and lifestyle management.

Kathrine is registered with the General Osteopathic Council and has CRB clearance to work with children.

Kathrine is available for appointments in Batcombe on a Tuesday and Frome on Mondays & Wednesdays.

Violette AubryBSc(Hons)Ost

Violette qualified at the European School of Osteopathy and she is registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

She has a broad training in osteopathic principles and has achieved a high level of skill in a range of osteopathic approaches to treatment. She is particularly interested in the care of pregnant women and babies, but is also skilled in the management of sports injuries and general aches and pains. She is interested in caring for the whole person to increase their well being as well as reducing symptoms.

“I believe that a good patient-practitioner relationship is central in the healing process. Taking the time to explain every aspect of treatment to patients appears to me a priority to fulfil my duty of care”.

Violette is French and is bilingual in French and English. She is planning to do further studies in cranial osteopathy and visceral osteopathy to extend her expertise.

Violette is available for appointments in Frome on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Emily RebouillatBSc(Hons)Ost

Emily is a graduate of the European School of Osteopathy in Maidstone, Kent.

Emily enjoys treating all members of the family from babies to adults, using a variety of techniques including structural, functional and cranial approaches according to her patients’ needs. She has a particular interest in paediatric osteopathy and is qualified to treat newborns, children, pregnant and post partum women.

Emily is very interested in helping her patients maintain optimum health and believes that lifestyle and exercise play a significant role in their recovery.

Emily is registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

Emily is available in Batcombe on Thursdays and in Frome on Wednesdays and Fridays.

REGULATION & TRAINING

The degree course for an osteopath is 4 years full-time, where osteopaths study anatomy, physiology and biomechanics as well as pathology, neurology and clinical methods. The rigorous training ensures that when you visit a qualified osteopath you will receive the highest level of healthcare, recognised by the British Medical Association as a discrete clinical discipline.

All of your Osteopaths are CRB cleared to work with children.

In 1993, Osteopathy became the first complementary health care profession to undergo statutory regulation by Parliament giving Osteopaths the same legal status as dentists and doctors, guaranteeing patients the same level of professionalism, protection and confidentiality.

This registration regulated by the General Osteopathic Council shows that all registered osteopaths are safe and competent practitioners.

For further information on Osteopathy contact:

OSTEOPATHY FOR MOTHERS & BABIES

A Happy Baby means a Happy Mother!

Osteopaths will use a special technique, often called cranial osteopathy, when looking at children. This employs the osteopath’s highly trained sense of touch to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations, both in and around the joints of the skull, and throughout the body. Every baby’s birth experience is unique, whether fast, long and drawn out, or Caesarean birth.

Early difficulties are often associated with feeding and digestion, sleep and crying. A baby, who is unsettled or struggling to feed, may be uncomfortable from the effects of birth. Osteopaths believe that unresolved birth stresses may contribute to many different problems as the child grows. Osteopathic treatment is extremely gentle and is safe for the smallest of babies.

These same techniques are employed when treating new mothers, and may be supplemented by more structural techniques, such as massage and articulation, which are more appropriate for adult treatment.The most important thing for a new mother is to make sure that her new baby has the very best care and attention, so that the baby is content, growing well and happy. As Osteopaths, the health of the mother holds equal importance, as she will need to use her reserves in the first demanding months of the childs life.

Childbirth itself is physically stressful on the mother. After giving birth, the body has to recover from both the changes it made during pregnancy and from the effects of the delivery. New mothers may suffer from aches and pains, and sometimes feel quite traumatised by the labour experience, or ‘out of sorts’.

Mum’s pelvis is often pulled out of balance by the passage of the baby, particularly after a difficult delivery. If the mother’s feet are in stirrups for delivery or stitching, the weight of the legs puts huge leverage through the pelvis at a time when the pelvic ligaments are unstable. This is one of the more common causes of back problems after childbirth.

Why is Treatment important?

Unresolved childbirth stress in the mother’s pelvis can contribute to ongoning back problems, neck pain, general fatigue, or headaches arising from the neck. Treating problems in new mothers is best done relatively soon after the birth, as there is still a large amount of flexibility in the pelvic and lumbar ligaments, which allows us to ease things back into place much more quickly.

It is also a good time to give you advice about exercises to regain your abdominal strength and stability, and postural advice on feeding and regaining your pre-pregnancy posture.

What is a Mother and Baby session?

The session will take between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 mins, and will include case histories and examination of both of you, and then treatment.

We can then ascertain whether either of you will need follow up care, and then rebook as appropriate.

For appointments or questions please call: 01749 830439

Contact us

We are always happy to offer telephone consultations
prior to making an appointment, so please feel free
to call for further information: